Electric steam-heater.



C. C. PONTING.

ELECTRIC STEAM HEATER.

APPLICATION FILED-MAR. 13, 1913.

1,087,607. Patented Feb. 17,1914.

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CLAUDE C. PONTIN'G, OF MEDFOR.D, OREGON.

ELECTRIC scrum-HEATER.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 17, 1914.

Application filed March 13, 1913. Serial No. 753,984.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, CLAUDE C. PONTING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Medford, in the county of -Jackson, State of Oregon, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Steam-Heaters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a. steam heater or radiator supplied with thermal energy by the means of electrical energy; and the invention consists in various improvements to supply a simple and eflicient combination which will operate to radiate into surrounding atmosphere a quantity of heat representing a very large proportion of the electrical energy initially supplied to the apparatus.

One af the prime features of my inven-' tion is the provision of means whereby heat is readily and easily utilized from an electrical heating element to convertwater into steam; and whereby free and easy circulation of the water and steam is assured.

Another feature, which I may mention, s an apparatus for controlling the electric action dependent upon the steam pressure n the radiator.

These features will be more fully explained in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying draw-- ings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation, with parts in section, of my improved radiator. Fig. 2 is a section tpken as indicated by line 22 of Fig. 1 and illustrating the conduction of the automatic control. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail. of parts shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the electrical connections of my heater.

In the drawings 10 inay designate a radiator of any common construction, having a lower horizontal passage 11 and radiating elements or units 12 rising vertically therefrom. The lower horizontal passage 11 has a clear opening from end to end so as to allow longitudinal circulation of the water and steam within the radiator. At each end of thepassage 11 there is a vertical passage 13 and l l which connect with the ends of a horizontal water tube 15. The water tube 15 and the passages l1, l3 and 14 form a closed circulation circuit for the water 16 and the.

steam formed therefrom. A filling cap 17 afi'ords means of inserting the water 16.

At one end of the water tube 16 there is a fitting 20 which may contain a plug 21 of suitable insulating materials and through 4 an intermediate point on the element being connected to lead 23. A wire 25 may lead directly from the source of electrical energy to the lead 24; and wires 26 and 27 may connect the leads .22 and 23 with contacts 28 and 29 of a suitable switch 30. A wire 31 may lead from the arm o-fswitch 30 to the automatic control switch 32, from whence wire 33 leads to the other side of the source of electrical energy. By means of switch 30 the current may be sent through all or part of the heating element 25; and' the switch 32 serves to normally pass the electrical current to the heating element, and to cut oil? the current when pressure in the radiator rises to a predetermined point. The construction of the automatic switch may be somewhat as indicatedin Fig. 2. The essentials of this construction are comprised in switch 82 and a pressure operated apparatus 34. Apparatus 34 preferably takes the form of a cylinder 85 and piston 36, the piston being held in normal position by a small spring 87.

The piston rod 38 carries a sultable contact member 39 on its end which completes the electrical circuit between contacts 40. When the piston 36 is moved in the direction indicated by the steam pressure in the radiator, the insulated portion 41 of the piston rod is pushed between contacts 4:0, and breaks the electrical connection between them. This form of automatic electrical control is typical of many other forms which I may utilize; the object being to break the circuit to the heating element when the steam pressure in the radiator has reached "a certain predetermined point.

W hen electrical current is supplied to the heating element, the water, which may stand about the level shown at 51, immediately becomes heated and begins to vaporize. The vapor rises through the passages 13 and 14; and a circulation will be established around through the passages 18 and 14c, and passage .11 and tube 15 in one direction or the and a corresponding temperature, of the steam is reached, the electrical current is cut off until the pressure and temperature subside. Upon subsidence of pressure the switch 32 closes and the operation is repeated. The frequency with which the Water is heated and the steam generated will depend entirely upon the size and design of the heater and upon the rapidity oi which the radiator elements 12 radiate steam heat to the surrounding atmosphere. It will be noted that I require only a small amount of water to cover the electrical heat ing element. On account of the horizontal positionot' the heatingelement, and its arrangement in the pipe 15 closely surrounding it most of the water in the heater is close to the heating element. This arrangement makes for good eiliciency, as the electrically developed heat is transferred. directly to the whole of a small body or Water, requiring little current to initiall heatthe water to a suitable temperature Leanne? Having described my invention, .1 claim:

An electric steam heater, comprising a radiator having a lower horizontal passage and radiating elements extending upwardly t iereirom, a water tube parallel to and be low the horizontal passage and connected therewith by a vertical passage at each end, the said horizontal passage, the Water tube and the vertical passages constituting a complete endless circulating system for water and steam, and a horizontal electric heating element in the Water tube, the tube closely surrounding the heating element so as to contain a minimum quantity of Water, substantially as described.

In witness that I claim the foregoing l have hereunto subscribed my name this 4th day or March 1913.

CLAUDE C. PQNTING.

Witnesses WM, Mnannv, S, LEWIs. 

